Michael Peace
Encyclopedia
Michael Peace is an American rapper and one of Christian rap's first solo artists. Peace was raised in New York City as the second oldest of four children.
Considered the Grandfather of Christian hip-hop, he received the “African-American of Distinction” award in 1994 for his commitment to urban communities from then New York Governor Mario Cuomo
.
Peace is the founder and president of Michael Peace and Associates, a multi-faceted youth, urban affairs, music and general consulting organization. He has developed curriculum for educational at-risk children and is part of a team spearheading the establishing of abstinence education funding for the city of Rochester
(the City-Wide Black Experience History game), as well as being an instructor in public schools.
Peace is the Urban Youth Ministries Director at Bethel Christian Fellowship Church in Rochester, New York. He earned a B.S. degree in 1981 in Mass Media/Speech Communications from State University of New York at Brockport
. In the early 1990s he was a contributing writer to Christian music publication Digital Audio Notebook/Diganote. He was the co-author of an article in 2000 in the Journal of Community Health entitled "Abstinence Education for Urban Youth."
Peace was married to Julia Peace in 1987, and they have one son, Roberto J.D. Peace. According to "Tha Holy Hip Hop Database", Peace said that God told him "to minister by faith and not charge a fee." Thus, he only made $1,000-2,500 per concert at the height of his career. "The couple depended on God to provide for the ministry, and He did."
Peace started out in 1985 with several hit albums released by Reunion and Star Song Records in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995, he stopped touring in order to concentrate on mentoring at-risk youth in his hometown of Rochester.
After a long layoff, Peace made a live recording at the Kingdom Bound in Darien Center, New York on August 7, 2007. It was his first new recording since 1994. During the live session, he assembled about two dozen artists to put together the “world's biggest freestyle single”, where rappers each had several seconds to add their own unique lyrical spin to a funky beat.
Considered the Grandfather of Christian hip-hop, he received the “African-American of Distinction” award in 1994 for his commitment to urban communities from then New York Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
.
Peace is the founder and president of Michael Peace and Associates, a multi-faceted youth, urban affairs, music and general consulting organization. He has developed curriculum for educational at-risk children and is part of a team spearheading the establishing of abstinence education funding for the city of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
(the City-Wide Black Experience History game), as well as being an instructor in public schools.
Peace is the Urban Youth Ministries Director at Bethel Christian Fellowship Church in Rochester, New York. He earned a B.S. degree in 1981 in Mass Media/Speech Communications from State University of New York at Brockport
State University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
. In the early 1990s he was a contributing writer to Christian music publication Digital Audio Notebook/Diganote. He was the co-author of an article in 2000 in the Journal of Community Health entitled "Abstinence Education for Urban Youth."
Peace was married to Julia Peace in 1987, and they have one son, Roberto J.D. Peace. According to "Tha Holy Hip Hop Database", Peace said that God told him "to minister by faith and not charge a fee." Thus, he only made $1,000-2,500 per concert at the height of his career. "The couple depended on God to provide for the ministry, and He did."
Peace started out in 1985 with several hit albums released by Reunion and Star Song Records in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1995, he stopped touring in order to concentrate on mentoring at-risk youth in his hometown of Rochester.
After a long layoff, Peace made a live recording at the Kingdom Bound in Darien Center, New York on August 7, 2007. It was his first new recording since 1994. During the live session, he assembled about two dozen artists to put together the “world's biggest freestyle single”, where rappers each had several seconds to add their own unique lyrical spin to a funky beat.
Discography
- RRRock It Right, 1987
- Rappin Bold, 1988
- Vigilante of Hope, 1989
- Loud-N-Clear, 1990
- Threat to Society, 1991
- Outta Control, 1994
External links
- The History of Christian Hip Hop & Christian Rap
- Mike Peace Online
- http://www.guideposts.com/story/minister-rapper"Minister Raps About Faith" article in GuidepostsGuidepostsGuideposts is a Christian-faith based non-profit organization founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Raymond Thornburg, and Peale's wife, Ruth Stafford Peale. The Guideposts organization is headquartered in Carmel, New York, with additional offices in New York City, Chesterton, Indiana, and...
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